Notification Control Method, Notification Controller, and Vehicle

The present application is the US National Phase entry of International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2023/062366 filed Dec. 7, 2023, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-204310 filed Dec. 21, 2022, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

The disclosure relates to a notification control method, a notification controller, and a vehicle and, more specifically, to a notification control method that is executed by a notification controller that notifies a user of a vehicle to replace an electrical storage device mounted on the vehicle and storing electric power used to drive the vehicle, a notification controller that notifies a user of a vehicle to replace an electrical storage device mounted on the vehicle and storing electric power used to drive the vehicle, and a vehicle that notifies a user to replace an electrical storage device storing electric power used to drive the vehicle.

There has been a system that identifies at least one battery service station that an electrified vehicle can reach with a remaining amount of charge and in which the electrified vehicle shows a user of the electrified vehicle the at least one battery service station (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-135892 (JP 2014-135892 A)). EP 2 578 997 A1 discloses another example of a system for supporting a user of an electrically driven vehicle.

In the technology of JP 2014-135892 A, when the state of charge of a battery is lower than a threshold, a battery service station that can be reached with a remaining amount of charge is identified. However, for example, assuming an area with a relatively small number of replacement places for electrical storage devices around, no reachable replacement place can be left therearound when the remaining amount of charge of the electrical storage device is less than a threshold.

The disclosure provides a notification control method, a notification controller, and a vehicle that are capable of prompting a user to replace an electrical storage device before a remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device falls below a remaining amount of electric power required for a vehicle to reach a replacement place for the electrical storage device.

A first aspect of the disclosure provides a notification control method. The notification control method is executed by a notification controller configured to notify a user of a vehicle to replace an electrical storage device mounted on the vehicle and configured to store electric power used to drive the vehicle. The notification controller includes a processor and a notification device. The notification control method includes a setting step of setting, by the processor, a threshold related to an amount of electric power required to travel between a current location of the vehicle and a replacement place for the electrical storage device, the replacement place satisfying a predetermined condition, an identifying step of identifying, by the processor, a status value with which a remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device is identified, and, when the status value falls below the threshold, a controlling step of controlling, by the processor, the notification device such that the notification device notifies the user to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device.

According to the first aspect, when the status value with which the remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device is identified falls below the threshold related to the amount of electric power required to travel between the current location of the vehicle and the replacement place for the electrical storage device, the user is notified to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device. As a result, it is possible to provide the notification control method capable of prompting the user to replace the electrical storage device before the remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device falls below the remaining amount of electric power required for the vehicle to reach the replacement place for the electrical storage device.

In the first aspect, the predetermined condition may include a condition that the vehicle reaches the replacement place from the current location with the least amount of electric power required.

With the above configuration, it is possible to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device before the remaining amount of electric power falls below the remaining amount of electric power required for the vehicle to reach the replacement place that the vehicle can reach from the current location with the least amount of electric power required.

In the first aspect, the notification control method may include an acquiring step of acquiring, by the processor, information on an amount of electric power of an electrical storage device stored the replacement place. The predetermined condition may include a condition related to an amount of electric power of the electrical storage device, indicated by the information acquired.

With the above configuration, the replacement place for which replacement of the electrical storage device is prompted can be set to the replacement place where the electrical storage device that satisfies the condition related to the amount of electric power is stored.

In the first aspect, the setting the threshold may include a providing step of setting, by the processor, the threshold with an electric power efficiency and a distance between the current location and the replacement place that satisfies the predetermined condition.

With the above configuration, it is possible to further accurately set the threshold related to the amount of electric power required to travel between the current location and the replacement place.

In the first aspect, the notification control method may include a providing step of controlling, by the processor, the notification device such that the notification device provides, to the user, a screen for booking replacement of the electrical storage device at the replacement place.

With the above configuration, it is possible to reduce time and effort of the user to perform operation for booking replacement of the electrical storage device at the replacement place.

In the first aspect, the notification control method may include, a prohibiting step of prohibiting, by the processor, notification to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device, when the remaining amount of electric power falls below the amount of electric power required to travel between the current location of the vehicle and the replacement place that satisfies the predetermined condition.

With the above configuration, when the remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device falls below the amount of electric power required to travel between the current location of the vehicle and the replacement place, it is possible to stop unnecessary notification such as prompting for replacement by determining that the user has no intention to replace the electrical storage device (the user does not have an intention to replace the electrical storage device and has an intention to charge the electrical storage device).

In the first aspect, in controlling the notification device, the processor may be configured to control the notification device such that the notification device notifies the user to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device, when a distance between the current location of the vehicle and the replacement place that satisfies the predetermined condition is shorter than a predetermined distance.

In the case of an area where there is no replacement place around, it is presumable that, basically, the electrical storage device is not replaced and is charged. For this reason, when the distance between the current location of the vehicle and the replacement place is longer than or equal to the predetermined distance, the user feels burdensome if the user is notified to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device. With such a configuration, when the distance between the current location of the vehicle and the replacement place is shorter than the predetermined distance, the user is notified prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device. As a result, it is possible for the user not to feel burdensome.

In the first aspect, the notification control method may further include an acquiring step of acquiring, by the processor, traffic congestion information of a route from the current location of the vehicle to the replacement place that satisfies the predetermined condition, and an offering step of controlling, by the processor, the notification device such that the notification device offers to suppress consumption of electric power until traffic congestion disappears when a likelihood of traffic congestion is indicated by the traffic congestion information.

The user is notified to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device when the status value with which the remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device is identified falls below the threshold related to the amount of electric power required to reach the replacement place for the electrical storage device. In such a case, if the vehicle meets traffic congestion and consumes an extra amount of electric power, a likelihood that the vehicle cannot reach the replacement place increases. With such a configuration, when the likelihood of traffic congestion in the route from the current location to the replacement place is indicated, the user is offered to suppress consumption of electric power until the traffic congestion disappears. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation that the vehicle cannot reach the replacement place.

A second aspect of the disclosure provides a notification controller. The notification controller is configured to notify a user of a vehicle to replace an electrical storage device mounted on the vehicle and configured to store electric power used to drive the vehicle. The notification controller includes a processor and a notification device. The processor is configured to set a threshold related to an amount of electric power required to travel between a current location of the vehicle and a replacement place for the electrical storage device, the replacement place satisfying a predetermined condition, identify a status value with which a remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device is identified, compare the status value with the threshold, and, when the status value falls below the threshold, control the notification device such that the notification device notifies the user to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device.

According to the second aspect, it is possible to provide the notification controller capable of prompting the user to replace the electrical storage device before the remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device falls below the remaining amount of electric power required for the vehicle to reach the replacement place for the electrical storage device.

A third aspect of the disclosure provides a vehicle. The vehicle is configured to notify a user to replace an electrical storage device configured to store electric power used to drive the vehicle. The vehicle includes a processor, a communication device used to communicate with an external device, and a notification device configured to notify the user of information. The processor is configured to control the communication device such that the communication device sends, to the external device, information indicating a current location of the vehicle and a remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device, and control the notification device such that the notification device notifies information prompting to replace the electrical storage device when a status value with which the remaining amount of electric power is identified falls below a threshold related to an amount of electric power required to travel between the current location and a replacement place for the electrical storage device. The information is sent from the external device. The threshold is identified by the external device. The replacement place satisfies a predetermined condition.

According to the third aspect, it is possible to provide the vehicle capable of prompting the user to replace the electrical storage device before the remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device falls below the remaining amount of electric power required for the vehicle to reach the replacement place for the electrical storage device.

According to the first aspect, the second aspect, and the third aspect of the disclosure, it is possible to provide the notification control method, the notification controller, and the vehicle that are capable of prompting the user to replace the electrical storage device before the remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device falls below the remaining amount of electric power required for the vehicle to reach the replacement place for the electrical storage device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference signs denote the same or corresponding portions in the drawings, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

1 FIG. 2 FIG. 1 FIG. 2 FIG. 1 1 1 10 10 10 20 20 20 20 200 200 200 200 20 20 20 100 1 800 10 10 10 200 200 200 100 800 900 is a diagram that shows the configuration of a battery replacement systemaccording to the embodiment.is a block diagram that schematically shows the configuration of devices included in the battery replacement systemaccording to the embodiment. As shown inand, the battery replacement systemincludes a plurality of vehiclesA,B (hereinafter, also representatively referred to as “vehicles”), a plurality of replacement stationsA,B,C (hereinafter, also representatively referred to as “replacement stations”), equipment serversA,B,C (also representatively referred to as “equipment servers”) respectively provided in the replacement stationsA,B,C, and a management server. The battery replacement systemmay include a mobile terminalcarried by a user of each of the vehicles. The vehiclesA,B, the equipment serversA,B,C, the management server, and the mobile terminalsare communicable via a communication network.

10 11 12 13 14 15 11 10 10 21 11 11 11 The vehicleincludes a battery, an electronic control unit (ECU), a drive unit, a data communication module (DCM), and a human machine interface (HMI). The batterystores electric power used to drive the vehicleand is mounted on the vehiclein a state of being replaceable by a replacement device(described later). The batteryis, for example, a lithium ion battery. However, the batteryis not limited thereto. The batterymay be a battery of another type, for example, a nickel-metal hydride battery or an all-solid-state battery.

12 10 The ECUincludes a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and a global positioning system (GPS). The memory includes a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM) and stores programs and data used by the CPU. The CPU executes predetermined processes defined by programs in accordance with the programs and data stored in the memory and data input from an outside and stores data of the executed results in the memory or outputs the data to the outside. The GPS detects location information of the vehicleand transfers the location information to the CPU.

13 11 11 13 10 10 10 The drive unitincludes a motor generator and an inverter. The inverter drives the motor generator by using electric power of the batteryand charges the batterywith regenerative electric power from the motor generator. The drive unitmay further include an engine that runs on fuel to drive the motor generator or the vehicle. In other words, the vehiclemay be a battery electric vehicle (BEV) that includes a motor generator and does not include an engine or may be a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that includes a motor generator and an engine. Also, the vehiclemay be a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV).

14 900 12 12 The DCMis a module for communicating with an external device via the communication network, sends data from the ECUto the external device, and transfers data from the external device to the ECU.

15 10 15 12 15 12 15 The HMIis a device provided near a driver seat of the vehicle. The HMIreceives information input from a user and outputs the information to the ECU. The HMIis configured to inform the information from the ECUto the user by display or voice. The HMIis configured to include, for example, a touch panel display.

200 210 220 230 240 220 230 900 210 210 240 240 210 210 220 240 230 220 240 230 The equipment serverincludes a CPU, a memory, a communication unit, and a mass storage. The memoryincludes a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM). The communication unitis communicable with an external device via the communication network, sends data from the CPUto the external device, and transfers data from the external device to the CPU. The mass storageis a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or the like. The mass storagestores programs and data used in the CPU. The CPUexecutes predetermined processes defined by programs in accordance with the programs and data stored in the memoryor the mass storageand data input from an external device to the communication unitand stores data of the executed results in the memoryor the mass storageor outputs the data from the communication unitto the external device.

20 11 21 200 21 200 11 10 10 11 11 11 11 10 11 11 The replacement stationfor the batteryincludes the replacement deviceand the equipment server. The replacement device, under control of the equipment server, detaches the batteryof the vehiclefrom the vehicle, moves the batterydetached, to a storage location, starts charging the batterymoved, takes out the batterycharged, from the storage location, and attaches the batterytaken out, to the vehicle. In the embodiment, after replacement of the batteryis booked, the batterycharged up to a state of charge (SOC)=80% is charged up to a full charge SOC=100%.

100 110 120 130 140 100 11 20 1 110 120 130 140 100 210 220 230 240 200 The management serverincludes a CPU, a memory, a communication unit, and a mass storage. The management servermanages replacement of the batteryat each of the replacement stationsin the battery replacement system. The functions of the CPU, memory, communication unit, and mass storageof the management serverare respectively similar to those of the CPU, memory, communication unit, and mass storageof the equipment server.

800 810 820 830 840 850 820 230 800 220 230 200 840 810 850 810 810 820 830 840 820 830 850 The mobile terminalincludes a CPU, a memory, a communication unit, an input unit, and an output unit. The functions of the memoryand communication unitof the mobile terminalare respectively similar to those of the memoryand communication unitof the equipment server. The input unitis made up of a touch panel, an operating button, and a microphone and transfers data input from the touch panel, the operating button, or the microphone to the CPU. The output unitis made up of a display and a speaker and outputs data from the CPUfrom the display or the speaker. The CPUexecutes predetermined processes defined by programs in accordance with the programs and data stored in the memory, data input from an external device to the communication unit, and data input from the input unitand stores data of the executed results in the memoryor outputs the data from the communication unitto the external device or outputs the data from the output unit.

1 11 20 10 20 11 20 11 In the battery replacement systemdescribed above, when the state of charge of the batteryis lower than a threshold, it is presumable to identify the replacement stationthat the vehiclecan reach with a remaining amount of charge. Here, assuming an area with a relatively small number of the replacement stationsfor the batteryaround, no reachable replacement stationcan be left therearound when the remaining amount of charge of the batteryis less than a threshold.

10 20 11 20 11 11 For this reason, a notification control method includes setting a threshold related to an amount of electric power required to travel between a current location of the vehicleand, of the plurality of replacement stationsfor the battery, the replacement stationthat satisfies a predetermined condition, identifying a status value with which a remaining amount of electric power of the batteryis identified, and, when the status value falls below the threshold, executing a process for notifying a user to prompt the user to replace the battery.

11 10 20 11 11 11 10 20 11 With this configuration, when the status value with which the remaining amount of electric power of the batteryis identified falls below the threshold related to the amount of electric power required to travel between the current location of the vehicleand the replacement stationfor the battery, the user is notified to prompt the user to replace the battery. As a result, it is possible to prompt the user to replace the batterybefore the remaining amount of electric power falls below the remaining amount of electric power required for the vehicleto reach the replacement stationfor the battery.

3 FIG. 3 FIG. 12 10 is a flowchart that shows the flow of a battery replacement notification process according to the first embodiment. As shown in, the battery replacement notification process is called and executed at intervals of a constant period (for example, a constant period ranging from several milliseconds to several tens of milliseconds) from a higher-level process by the ECUof the vehicle.

12 10 111 12 111 12 The ECUof the vehicledetermines whether a predetermined period (for example, a period of every predetermined minutes, such as every minute) has elapsed (step S). When the ECUdetermines that the predetermined period has not elapsed (NO in step S), the ECUreturns the process to the higher-level process of a source calling the battery replacement notification process.

12 111 12 15 11 112 On the other hand, when the ECUdetermines that the predetermined period has elapsed (YES in step S), the ECUdetermines whether the HMIis notifying to prompt to replace the battery(step S).

12 15 11 112 12 20 11 113 20 10 10 20 11 20 11 200 20 12 10 200 11 20 11 20 21 200 11 When the ECUdetermines that the HMIis not notifying to prompt to replace the battery(NO in step S), the ECUidentifies the replacement stationfor the battery, which satisfies the predetermined condition (step S). In the embodiment, the predetermined condition is a condition that the replacement stationis closest from the current location of the vehicle(that is, a condition that the vehiclecan reach the replacement stationwith the least amount of electric power required). The predetermined condition may include a condition that the batterywith a predetermined amount of electric power (for example, a value higher than or equal to 50%, such as SOC=80%) or higher is stored in the replacement station. In this case, the SOC of the batterystored is identified and stored by the equipment serverof the replacement station. The ECUof the vehicleacquires, from the equipment server, information indicating whether the batterywith the predetermined amount of electric power or greater is stored and identifies the replacement stationthat satisfies the condition that the batterywith the predetermined amount of electric power or greater is stored. In the replacement station, when booking of the replacement deviceis accepted by the equipment server, charging is started such that the batterycharged up to the predetermined amount of electric power is charged up to a full charge SOC=100%.

12 20 114 20 20 The ECUdetermines whether the replacement stationidentified falls within a predetermined range from the current location (step S). In the embodiment, the predetermined range is a range in which the travel distance of a route from the current location to the replacement stationis shorter than or equal to a predetermined distance. However, the predetermined range is not limited thereto. A linear distance from the current location to the replacement stationmay fall within a range shorter than or equal to a predetermined distance or may fall within a range of the same municipality or the same prefecture as the current location.

12 20 114 12 12 20 114 12 20 115 20 20 10 When the ECUdetermines that the replacement stationdoes not fall within the predetermined range (NO in step S), the ECUreturns the process to the higher-level process of the source calling the battery replacement notification process. On the other hand, when the ECUdetermines that the replacement stationfalls within the predetermined range (YES in step S), the ECUsets a predetermined multiple (for example, a multiple greater than a multiple of one, such as a multiple of 1.1) of an SOC required to travel between the current location and the replacement stationas a threshold (step S). The SOC required to travel between the current location and the replacement stationis set by using a distance between the current location and the replacement stationand an electric power efficiency (available travel distance per unit amount of electric power) of the vehicle.

12 11 116 117 12 117 12 The ECUidentifies the current SOC of the battery(step S) and determines whether the SOC is lower than the threshold (step S). When the ECUdetermines that the SOC is not lower than the threshold (NO in step S), the ECUreturns the process to the higher-level process of the source calling the battery replacement notification process.

12 117 12 15 15 11 118 11 20 11 126 20 11 10 20 11 On the other hand, when the ECUdetermines that the SOC is lower than the threshold (YES in step S), the ECUcontrols the HMIsuch that the HMIstarts notification to prompt to replace the battery(step S). The notification to prompt to replace the batterymay include information on the replacement stationthat satisfies the predetermined condition (for example, location, facility name, the number of batterieswith the predetermined amount of electric power or greater). In this situation, since the process of step S(described later) is not yet executed, the current SOC has not become lower than the SOC required to travel between the current location and the replacement station. In other words, when there is a small margin in the remaining amount of electric power of the batteryfor the amount of electric power required for the vehicleto reach the replacement station, such as when the current SOC is higher than or equal to the SOC required and is lower than the threshold, it is possible to inform the user to prompt the user to replace the battery.

12 21 11 20 15 119 21 20 100 200 20 100 200 21 20 15 10 21 20 21 15 14 Subsequently, the ECUexecutes a process for booking the replacement devicefor the batteryat the replacement stationwith the HMI(step S). Booking the replacement deviceof the replacement stationis managed by the management serveror the equipment serverof the replacement station. The booking process includes a process of communicating with a server that manages booking (the management serveror the equipment server) to display a screen for booking the replacement deviceof the replacement stationon the HMIof the vehicleand a process of receiving booking details (when, for example, a plurality of the replacement devicesis provided at the replacement station, information with which the replacement deviceto be booked is identified, start time, and end time) of the user by the server from the HMIvia the DCM.

12 11 112 119 12 20 900 14 121 When the ECUdetermines that information prompting to replace the batteryis being notified (YES in step S) or after step S, the ECUacquires traffic congestion information of a route from the current location to the replacement stationfrom a source providing traffic congestion information via the communication networkand the DCM(step S).

12 122 12 122 12 15 10 10 10 123 The ECUdetermines whether there is traffic congestion in the route (step S). When the ECUdetermines that there is traffic congestion (YES in step S), the ECUoffers the user with the HMIthat consumption of electric power is suppressed (for example, parking the vehicle, turning off the ignition of the vehicle, or stopping a device having a relatively greater consumption of electric power in the vehicle) until the traffic congestion disappears (step S).

12 122 123 12 20 124 12 11 125 12 125 12 11 126 11 When the ECUdetermines that there is no traffic congestion (NO in step S) or after step S, the ECUidentifies the SOC required to travel between the current location and the replacement station(step S). The ECUidentifies the current SOC of the batteryand determines whether the SOC is lower than the SOC required (step S) When the ECUdetermines that the SOC is lower than the SOC required (YES in step S), the ECUprohibits notification to prompt to replace the battery(step S). In such a case, it is possible not to provide notification that makes the user feel burdensome by determining that the user has no intention to replace the battery(an intention to perform charging and not to perform replacement).

12 125 126 12 When the ECUdetermines that the SOC is not lower than the SOC required (NO in step S) or after step S, the ECUreturns the process to the higher-level process of the source calling the battery replacement notification process.

3 FIG. 4 FIG. 12 10 110 100 In the first embodiment, the battery replacement notification process shown inis executed by the ECUof the vehicle. In a second embodiment, as shown in(described later), the battery replacement notification process is executed by the CPUof the management server.

4 FIG. 4 FIG. 110 100 is a flowchart that shows the flow of the battery replacement notification process according to the second embodiment. As shown in, the battery replacement notification process is called and executed at intervals of a constant period from the higher-level process by the CPUof the management server.

110 100 10 201 110 10 201 110 The CPUof the management serverdetermines whether a predetermined period (for example, a period of every predetermined minute, such as every minute) for any one of the vehiclesbeing managed has elapsed (step S). When the CPUdetermines that the predetermined period for any one of the vehicleshas not elapsed (NO in step S), the CPUreturns the process to the higher-level process of a source calling the battery replacement notification process.

110 10 201 110 11 10 10 10 15 10 202 110 10 15 11 15 212 On the other hand, when the CPUdetermines that the predetermined period for any one of the vehicleshas elapsed (YES in step S), the CPUacquires information such as an SOC of the batteryfrom the vehicle, location information of the vehicle, and controlled states of the vehicle(for example, a controlled state of ignition on or off, a driving controlled state, a controlled state of the HMI, and an electric power efficiency of the vehicle) (step S). The CPUdetermines whether, in the vehicle, the HMIis notifying to prompt to replace the batteryfrom the acquired controlled state of the HMI(step S).

110 10 15 11 212 110 20 11 213 20 10 10 20 11 20 11 200 20 110 100 200 11 20 11 20 21 200 11 The CPUdetermines that, in the vehicle, the HMIis not notifying to prompt to replace the battery(NO in step S), the CPUidentifies the replacement stationfor the battery, which satisfies the predetermined condition (step S). In the embodiment, the predetermined condition is a condition that the replacement stationis closest from the current location of the vehicle(that is, a condition that the vehiclecan reach the replacement stationwith the least amount of electric power required). The predetermined condition may include a condition that the batterywith a predetermined amount of electric power (for example, a value higher than or equal to 50%, such as SOC=80%) or higher is stored in the replacement station. In this case, the SOC of the batterystored is identified and stored by the equipment serverof the replacement station. The CPUof the management serveracquires, from the equipment server, information indicating whether the batterywith the predetermined amount of electric power or higher is stored and identifies the replacement stationthat satisfies the condition that the batterywith the predetermined amount of electric power or greater is stored. In the replacement station, when booking of the replacement deviceis accepted by the equipment server, charging is started such that the batterycharged up to the predetermined amount of electric power is charged up to a full charge SOC=100%.

110 20 10 214 20 20 The CPUdetermines whether the replacement stationidentified falls within a predetermined range from the current location of the vehicle(step S). In the embodiment, the predetermined range is a range in which the travel distance of a route from the current location to the replacement stationis shorter than or equal to a predetermined distance. However, the predetermined range is not limited thereto. A linear distance from the current location to the replacement stationmay fall within a range shorter than or equal to a predetermined distance or may fall within a range of the same municipality or the same prefecture as the current location.

110 20 214 110 110 20 214 110 10 20 215 20 20 10 When the CPUdetermines that the replacement stationdoes not fall within the predetermined range (NO in step S), the CPUreturns the process to the higher-level process of the source calling the battery replacement notification process. On the other hand, when the CPUdetermines that the replacement stationfalls within the predetermined range (YES in step S), the CPUsets a predetermined multiple (for example, a multiple greater than a multiple of one, such as a multiple of 1.1) of an SOC required for the vehicleto travel between the current location and the replacement stationas a threshold (step S). The SOC required to travel between the current location and the replacement stationis set by using a distance between the current location and the replacement stationand an electric power efficiency (available travel distance per unit amount of electric power) of the vehicle.

110 11 10 217 110 217 110 The CPUdetermines whether the acquired SOC of the batteryof the vehicleis lower than the threshold (step S). When the CPUdetermines that the SOC is not lower than the threshold (NO in step S), the CPUreturns the process to the higher-level process of the source calling the battery replacement notification process.

110 217 110 10 130 900 15 10 15 11 10 218 10 20 11 10 100 14 12 15 15 11 11 20 11 226 11 10 10 20 11 10 20 11 10 10 11 On the other hand, when the CPUdetermines that the SOC is lower than the threshold (YES in step S), the CPUsends, to the vehiclevia the communication unitand the communication network, information for controlling the HMIof the vehiclesuch that the HMIstarts notification to prompt to replace the batteryof the vehicle(step S). The information to be sent to the vehiclemay include information on the replacement stationthat satisfies the predetermined condition (for example, location, facility name, the number of batterieswith the predetermined amount of electric power or greater). In the vehicle, in response to reception of the information from the management serverby the DCM, the ECUcontrols the HMIsuch that the HMIstarts notification to prompt to replace the battery. The notification to prompt to replace the batterymay include information on the replacement stationthat satisfies the predetermined condition (for example, location, facility name, the number of batterieswith the predetermined amount of electric power or greater). In this situation, since the process of step S(described later) is not executed yet, the current SOC of the batteryof the vehiclehas not become lower than the SOC required for the vehicleto travel between the current location and the replacement station. In other words, when there is a small margin in the remaining amount of electric power of the batteryfor the amount of electric power required for the vehicleto reach the replacement station, such as when the current SOC of the batteryof the vehicleis higher than or equal to the SOC required and is lower than the threshold, it is possible to inform the user to prompt the user of the vehicleto replace the battery.

110 10 21 11 20 15 219 21 20 100 200 20 100 200 21 20 15 10 21 20 21 15 14 Subsequently, the CPUexecutes a process for the user of the vehicleto book the replacement devicefor the batteryat the replacement stationwith the HMI(step S). Booking the replacement deviceof the replacement stationis managed by the management serveror the equipment serverof the replacement station. The booking process includes a process of communicating with a server that manages booking (the management serveror the equipment server) to display a screen for booking the replacement deviceof the replacement stationon the HMIof the vehicleand a process of receiving booking details (when, for example, a plurality of the replacement devicesis provided at the replacement station, information with which the replacement deviceto be booked is identified, start time, and end time) of the user by the server from the HMIvia the DCM.

110 10 15 11 212 219 110 10 20 900 130 221 When the CPUdetermines that, in the vehicle, the HMIis notifying to prompt to replace the battery(YES in step S) or after step S, the CPUacquires traffic congestion information of a route from the current location of the vehicleto the replacement stationfrom the source providing traffic congestion information via the communication networkand the communication unit(step S).

110 222 110 222 110 10 130 900 15 10 10 10 10 223 The CPUdetermines whether there is traffic congestion in the route (step S). When the CPUdetermines that there is traffic congestion (YES in step S), the CPUsends, to the vehiclevia the communication unitand the communication network, information for offering the user with the HMIof the vehiclethat consumption of electric power is suppressed (for example, parking the vehicle, turning off the ignition of the vehicle, or stopping a device having a relatively greater consumption of electric power in the vehicle) until the traffic congestion disappears (step S).

110 222 223 110 10 20 224 110 11 10 225 110 225 110 10 130 900 11 10 226 10 10 11 When the CPUdetermines that there is no traffic congestion (NO in step S) or after step S, the CPUidentifies the SOC required for the vehicleto travel between the current location and the replacement station(step S). The CPUdetermines whether the acquired SOC of the batteryof the vehicleis lower than the SOC required (step S). When the CPUdetermines that the SOC is lower than the SOC required (YES in step S), the CPUsends, to the vehiclevia the communication unitand the communication network, information for prohibiting notification to prompt to replace the batteryin the vehicle(step S). In such a case, it is possible not to provide notification that makes the user of the vehiclefeel burdensome by determining that the user of the vehiclehas no intention to replace the battery(an intention to perform charging and not to perform replacement).

110 225 226 110 When the CPUdetermines that the SOC is not lower than the SOC required (NO in step S) or after step S, the CPUreturns the process to the higher-level process of the source calling the battery replacement notification process.

1 FIG. 2 FIG. 10 10 11 (1) In the above-described embodiments, as shown inand, the electrical storage device mounted on the vehicleand configured to store electric power used to drive the vehicleis described as the battery. However, the configuration is not limited thereto. The electrical storage device may be an electrical storage device of another type, for example, a capacitor.

1 FIG. 2 FIG. 11 10 21 20 11 10 20 (2) In the above-described embodiments, as shown inand, the batteryof the vehicleis automatically replaced by the replacement deviceat the replacement station. However, the configuration is not limited thereto. The batteryof the vehiclemay be replaced manually by a worker at the replacement station.

113 213 20 11 10 20 10 10 20 20 11 10 20 20 3 FIG. 4 FIG. (3) In the above-described embodiments, as shown in step Sofand step Sof, the predetermined condition for identifying the replacement stationto replace the batteryof the vehicleis a condition that the replacement stationis closest from the current location of the vehicle(that is, the vehiclecan reach the replacement stationwith the least amount of electric power required). However, the configuration is not limited thereto. As long as the predetermined condition is a condition for identifying the replacement stationto replace the batteryof the vehicle, the predetermined condition may be another condition. The predetermined condition may be a condition that the replacement stationhas the highest frequency of use or may be a condition that the replacement stationis set in advance.

113 213 11 20 11 200 20 11 11 20 3 FIG. 4 FIG. (4) In the above-described embodiments, as shown in step Sofand step Sof, the predetermined condition may include a condition that the batterywith the predetermined amount of electric power or greater is stored in the replacement station. Specifically, information indicating whether the batterywith the predetermined amount of electric power or greater is stored is acquired from the equipment server, and the replacement stationthat satisfies the condition that the batterywith the predetermined amount of electric power or greater is stored is identified. However, the configuration is not limited thereto. As long as the predetermined condition includes a condition related to the amount of electric power of the electrical storage device such as the batterystored in the replacement place such as the replacement station, the predetermined condition may include another condition.

11 20 11 20 200 20 11 20 11 20 200 20 11 20 For example, the predetermined condition may include a condition that the amount of electric power stored in each of a predetermined number of batteries(for example, one, five, or the like) in descending order of the amount of electric power at the replacement stationis greater than or equal to the predetermined amount of electric power. In this case, information indicating the amount of electric power stored in each of the predetermined number of batteriesin descending order of the amount of electric power at the replacement stationis acquired from the equipment server, and the replacement stationthat satisfies a condition that the amount of electric power stored in each of the predetermined number of batteriesin descending order of the amount of electric power at the replacement stationis greater than or equal to the predetermined amount of electric power is identified. Alternatively, in this case, information indicating the amount of electric power stored in each of all the batteriesat the replacement stationmay be acquired from the equipment server, and the replacement stationthat satisfies a condition that the amount of electric power stored in each of the predetermined number of batteriesin descending order of the amount of electric power at the replacement stationis greater than or equal to the predetermined amount of electric power may be identified.

113 213 11 20 11 20 3 FIG. 4 FIG. (5) In the above-described embodiments, as shown in step Sofand step Sof, the predetermined condition may include a condition that the batterywith the predetermined amount of electric power or greater is stored in the replacement station. Then, the predetermined amount of electric power is, for example, a predetermined value like a value higher than or equal to 50%, such as SOC=80%. However, the configuration is not limited thereto. The user may be configured to be able to designate the predetermined amount of electric power. Alternatively, the predetermined amount of electric power may be a total value obtained by adding a margin amount of electric power (which may be a value exceeding zero or may be zero) to the amount of electric power required to reach a destination that the user is scheduled to visit after replacement of the batteryat the replacement station.

3 FIG. 4 FIG. 15 10 11 15 21 11 15 840 850 800 10 (6) In the above-described embodiments, as shown inand, the HIMIof the vehicleinforms to prompt to replace the battery. The HMIis used to exchange information with the user for the process of booking the replacement devicefor the battery. However, the configuration is not limited thereto. Instead of the HMI, the input unitand the output unitof the mobile terminalof the user of the vehiclemay be used to perform operation.

3 FIG. 4 FIG. 11 10 11 10 20 11 20 10 20 10 20 11 20 10 20 10 20 (7) In the above-described embodiments, as shown inand, when the SOC of the batteryof the vehiclefalls below the threshold, the user is notified to prompt the user to replace the battery. Here, the threshold is a predetermined multiple of the SOC corresponding to the amount of electric power required to travel between the current location of the vehicleand, of the replacement stationsfor the battery, the replacement stationthat satisfies the predetermined condition. In other words, the threshold is a value (%) of the SOC with an estimated margin to travel between the current location of the vehicleand the replacement place such as the replacement station. However, the configuration is not limited thereto. The threshold just needs to be a value related to the amount of electric power required to travel between the current location of the vehicleand, of the replacement stationsfor the battery, the replacement stationthat satisfies the predetermined condition. For example, the threshold may be an amount of electric power (kWh) required with an estimated margin to travel between the current location of the vehicleand the replacement place such as the replacement station. Alternatively, the threshold may be a value (k Wh) of the amount of electric power required or a value (%) of a corresponding SOC to travel between the current location of the vehicleand the replacement place such as the replacement station.

117 217 11 3 FIG. 4 FIG. As shown in step Sofand step Sof, an objected to be compared with the threshold is the SOC (%). However, the configuration is not limited thereto. The object to be compared just needs to be a status value with which the remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device such as the batteryis identified. When, for example, the threshold is a value of SOC, the object to be compared is also an SOC (%). When the threshold is an amount of electric power (kWh), the object to be compared may be a remaining amount of electric power (kWh).

1 10 100 200 800 1 10 100 200 800 (8) The above-described embodiments may be regarded as the disclosure of the battery replacement system, the vehicle, the management server, the equipment server, or the mobile terminalor may be regarded as the disclosure of a control processing method or a control processing program that executes a predetermined process, such as the battery replacement notification process that is executed by the battery replacement system, the vehicle, the management server, the equipment server, or the mobile terminal.

1 FIG. 4 FIG. 1 FIG. 2 FIG. 12 10 100 10 11 10 10 110 100 12 10 810 800 130 100 15 10 850 800 (1) As shown into, a notification control method is executed by a notification controller (for example, the ECUof the vehicleor the management server) that notifies a user of a vehicleto replace an electrical storage device (for example, the batteryor a capacitor) mounted on the vehicleand configured to store electric power used to drive the vehicle. As shown inand, the notification controller includes a processor (for example, the CPUof the management server, the CPU of the ECUof the vehicle, or the CPUof the mobile terminal), and a notification device (for example, the communication unitof the management server, the HMIof the vehicle, or the output unitof the mobile terminal).

3 FIG. 4 FIG. 3 FIG. 4 FIG. 3 FIG. 4 FIG. 3 FIG. 4 FIG. 3 FIG. 4 FIG. 4 FIG. 3 FIG. 4 FIG. 10 20 21 20 20 20 115 215 115 215 116 202 118 218 15 10 850 800 218 110 130 100 10 110 130 100 800 118 218 As shown inand, the notification control method includes setting, by the processor, a threshold related to an amount of electric power required to travel between a current location of the vehicleand, of a plurality of replacement places for an electrical storage device (for example, the replacement stationin which the automatic replacement deviceis installed or a replacement place by a worker), the replacement place that satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, a condition that the replacement stationis closest from the current location, a condition that the replacement stationhas the highest frequency of use, or a condition that the replacement stationis set in advance) (for example, inand, an SOC with an estimated margin to travel between the current location and the replacement place as shown in step Sand step S, an amount of electric power required with an estimated margin, corresponding to the SOC, or an amount of electric power required with no estimated margin or a corresponding SOC required) (for example, step Sofor step Sof), a status value with which the remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device is identified (for example, an SOC (%) or a remaining amount of electric power (kWh)) (for example, step Sofor step Sof), and controlling a notification device such that, when the status value falls below the threshold, the notification device executes a process for notifying the user to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device (for example, as shown in step Sofand step Sof, which may be a process for the HMIof the vehicleto notify to prompt for replacement, or a process for the output unitof the mobile terminalto notify to prompt for replacement, or, as shown in step Sof, a process for the CPUand the communication unitof the management serverto send information to notify to prompt for replacement in the vehicle, or a process for the CPUand the communication unitof the management serverto send information to notify to prompt for replacement in the mobile terminal) (for example, step Sofor step Sof).

10 10 With this configuration, when the status value with which the remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device is identified falls below the threshold related to the amount of electric power required to travel between the current location of the vehicleand the replacement place for the electrical storage device, the user is notified to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device. As a result, it is possible to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device before the remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device falls below the remaining amount of electric power required for the vehicleto reach the replacement place for the electrical storage device.

113 213 10 3 FIG. 4 FIG. (2) As shown in step Sofand step Sof, the predetermined condition may include a condition that the vehiclecan reach the replacement place from the current location with the least amount of electric power required.

10 With this configuration, it is possible to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device before the remaining amount of electric power falls below the remaining amount of electric power required for the vehicle to reach the replacement place that the vehiclecan reach from the current location with the least amount of electric power required.

113 213 3 FIG. 4 FIG. (3) As shown in step Sofand step Sof, the notification control method may further include acquiring, by the processor, information on an amount of electric power of an electrical storage device stored in each of the plurality of replacement places, and the predetermined condition may include a condition related to an amount of electric power of the electrical storage device, indicated by the information acquired.

With this configuration, the replacement place where the user is prompted to replace the electrical storage device can be set to the replacement place where the electrical storage device that satisfies the condition related to the amount of electric power is stored.

115 215 3 FIG. 4 FIG. (4) As shown in step Sofand step Sof, the setting the threshold may include setting, by the processor, the threshold with an electric power efficiency and a distance between the current location and the replacement place that satisfies the predetermined condition.

With this configuration, it is possible to further accurately set the threshold related to the amount of electric power required to travel between the current location and the replacement place.

119 219 3 FIG. 4 FIG. (5) As shown in step Sofand step Sof, the notification control method may further include controlling, by the processor, the notification device such that the notification device provides, to the user, a screen for booking replacement of the electrical storage device at the replacement place.

With this configuration, the user does not need to execute operation for displaying a screen for booking replacement of the electrical storage device at the replacement place, so it is possible to reduce time and effort of the user to perform operation for booking replacement of the electrical storage device at the replacement place.

126 226 10 3 FIG. 4 FIG. (6) As shown in step Sofand step Sof, the notification control method may further include, when the remaining amount of electric power falls below the amount of electric power required to travel between the current location of the vehicleand the replacement place that satisfies the predetermined condition, prohibiting, by the processor, notification to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device.

With this configuration, when the remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device falls below the amount of electric power required to travel between the current location of the vehicle and the replacement place, it is possible to stop unnecessary notification such as prompting for replacement by determining that the user has no intention to replace the electrical storage device (the user does not have an intention to replace the electrical storage device and has an intention to charge the electrical storage device).

114 214 3 FIG. 4 FIG. (7) As shown in step Sofand step Sof, the processor may be configured to, when a distance between the current location of the vehicle and the replacement place that satisfies the predetermined condition is shorter than a predetermined distance, control the notification device such that the notification device notifies the user to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device.

10 10 In the case of an area where there is no replacement place around, it is presumable that, basically, the electrical storage device is not replaced and is charged. For this reason, when the distance between the current location of the vehicleand the replacement place is longer than or equal to the predetermined distance, the user feels burdensome if the user is notified to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device. With this a configuration, when the distance between the current location of the vehicleand the replacement place is shorter than the predetermined distance, the user is notified to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device. As a result, it is possible for the user not to feel burdensome.

3 FIG. 4 FIG. 3 FIG. 4 FIG. 3 FIG. 4 FIG. 121 221 122 123 222 223 (8) As shown inand, the notification control method may further include acquiring, by the processor, traffic congestion information of a route from the current location of the vehicle to the replacement place that satisfies the predetermined condition (for example, step Sofor step Sof), and, when a likelihood of traffic congestion is indicated by the traffic congestion information, controlling, by the processor, the notification device such that the notification device offers to suppress consumption of electric power until the traffic congestion disappears (for example, step Sand step Sofor step Sand step Sof).

The user is notified to prompt to replace the electrical storage device when the status value with which the remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device is identified falls below the threshold related to the amount of electric power required to reach the replacement place for the electrical storage device. In such a case, if the vehicle meets traffic congestion and consumes an extra amount of electric power, a possibility that the vehicle cannot reach the replacement place increases. With this configuration, when the likelihood of traffic congestion in the route from the current location to the replacement place is indicated, the user is offered to suppress consumption of electric power until the traffic congestion disappears. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation that the vehicle cannot reach the replacement place.

1 FIG. 4 FIG. 4 FIG. 10 12 11 10 14 100 15 10 100 10 202 218 100 15 10 (9) As shown into, the vehicleincludes a processor (for example, the ECU) configured to notify a user to replace an electrical storage device (for example, the batteryor a capacitor) configured to store electric power used to drive the vehicle, a communication device (for example, the DCM) for communicating with an external device (for example, the management server), and a notification device (for example, the HMI) configured to notify the user of information. As shown in, the processor is configured to control the communication device such that the communication device sends information indicating a current location of the vehicleand a remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device to the external device (for example, in the management server, information sent from the vehicleis acquired in step S), and, when a status value with which the remaining amount of electric power is identified falls below a threshold related to an amount of electric power required to travel between the current location and, of a plurality of replacement places for the electrical storage device, the replacement place that satisfies a predetermined condition, control the notification device such that the notification device notifies information prompting to replace the electrical storage device, sent from the external device (for example, the information sent in step Sby the management serveris notified by the HMIof the vehicle). The threshold is identified by the external device.

10 With this configuration, it is possible to prompt the user to replace the electrical storage device before the remaining amount of electric power of the electrical storage device falls below the remaining amount of electric power required for the vehicleto reach the replacement place for the electrical storage device.

The embodiments described above are illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the disclosure is not defined by the description of the above-described embodiments, and is defined by the appended claims. The scope of the disclosure is intended to encompass all modifications within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.